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Method of auditory training and a hearing aid system

a hearing aid and training technology, applied in the field of auditory training, can solve the problems of increasing stigma, many users, especially first-time users, feeling stigmatized because of hearing loss, and getting used to the “new sound

Active Publication Date: 2017-07-11
WIDEX AS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a binaural hearing aid system that includes two hearing aids and a wireless link between them. The hearing aids have a primary signal path with an acoustic-electrical input transducer and a digital signal processor to amplify the input signal. The system also includes a sound generator to provide an electrical training signal, a Head-Related-Transfer-Function filter to simulate the position of a virtual object, and a synchronization unit to synchronize the operation of the two hearing aids. The system can also have a randomization unit to change the position of the virtual object, and a look-up table to hold Head-Related-Transfer-Functions for different positions of the virtual object. The invention also provides a method for auditory training using the binaural hearing aid system. The technical effects of the invention include improved binaural hearing for users and improved auditory training.

Problems solved by technology

However, this may in fact have increased the issue of stigmatization, because the hearing aid users are trying to hide the hearing aid and their hearing loss.
Although these different approaches in many ways have made hearing aids smarter, many users, especially first time users, feel stigmatized because of their hearing loss.
This often leads to a problem with getting used to the “new sound” as it is perceived through the hearing aid.
This will potentially increase the usage time of the hearing aid system, because the user finds the game fun and cognitively challenging and therefore wants to spend time wearing his or her hearing aids in order to play the game, and advance in level and difficulty.
Furthermore the use of hearing aids for playing such a game may take away the stigmatization, because people see the hearing aids as an entertaining and exciting thing instead of as a remedy for a handicap.
Hearing aids have, due to their size, a very limited user interface, because user interfaces are size demanding.
Despite the documented benefit of training, several reports have shown that less than 10% of audiologists offer comprehensive auditory training to patients with hearing impairment.

Method used

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  • Method of auditory training and a hearing aid system
  • Method of auditory training and a hearing aid system
  • Method of auditory training and a hearing aid system

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first embodiment

[0056]Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates highly schematically a binaural hearing aid system 100 according to the invention. The hearing aid system 100 comprises a first hearing aid 101 and a second hearing aid 102. The first hearing aid 101 comprises an acoustical-electrical transducer 103a, a summing unit 104a, a hearing aid signal processor 105a, an electrical-acoustical transducer 106a, a sound generator 107a, a synchronization unit 108a, a wireless link unit 109a, a HRTF function filter 110a, a look-up table 111a, a position determination unit 112, a user input 113, and an automated randomization unit 114.

[0057]In the first hearing aid 101 the acoustical-electrical transducer 103a transforms an acoustic signal from the surroundings into a first electrical signal representing the acoustical signal 115a, which is provided to an input of the hearing aid processor 105a for standard hearing aid signal processing adapted for alleviating a hearing deficit of the hearing...

second embodiment

[0069]Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a binaural hearing aid system 200 according to the invention. The binaural hearing aid system comprises a first hearing aid 201, a second hearing aid (not shown) and an auxiliary device 203, wherein a wireless link 203 is configured for establishing a wireless connection between the two hearing aids of the binaural hearing aid system 200 and the auxiliary device 203.

[0070]According to a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 2, the method of auditory training is implemented as a computer software program (a so called “app”) that may be downloaded by a smart phone or a tablet computer.

[0071]Generally the variations, mentioned in connection with a specific embodiment, may, where applicable, be considered variations for the other disclosed embodiments as well.

[0072]Thus e.g. the specific methods of controlling the movement of the fly do not depend on a specific embodiment and neither do the different methods for ensuring the synchro...

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PUM

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Abstract

A binaural hearing aid system (100) is configured to execute a method of auditory training, wherein the hearing aid user is trained by trying to bring a randomly moving simulated acoustic source to a desired position. The invention further provides a method of auditory training.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part of application PCT / EP 2013077611, filed on 20 Dec. 2013, in Europe, and published as WO 201509043 A1.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a method of auditory training. The invention also relates to a hearing aid system configured to carry out said method of auditory training. Furthermore the invention relates to a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions carrying out the method according to the invention when executed in a personal communication device.[0004]Generally a hearing aid system according to the invention is understood as meaning any system which provides an output signal that can be perceived as an acoustic signal by a user or contributes to providing such an output signal and which has means which are used to compensate an individual hearing loss of the user or contribute to compensating the hearing loss ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04R25/00
CPCH04R25/552H04R25/505H04R25/70H04S2420/01
Inventor STIEFENHOFER, GEORG
Owner WIDEX AS